The #RecoveryFirst Podcast with Mike Todd "Seeing Healing In My Community"

The #RecoveryFirst Podcast with Mike Todd "Seeing Healing In My Community"

What drives someone to seek a life without alcohol and drugs while still loving those who are still using? This episode of The Recovery First Addiction Recovery Podcast with host Mike Todd centres on that question through a powerful reflection on community, grief, and action.

Recorded from his porch with what he jokingly calls a "symphony" of insects in the background, Mike talks about an overdose awareness walk in Greenville, South Carolina, where more than 100 people gathered to remember those lost. People carried photos of loved ones, chanted their names through the streets, and shared stories in the town square. As Mike puts it, "You see, regardless of whether somebody uses drugs or not, they don't deserve to die.

And they have people who love them." You’ll hear how that night brought real comfort to parents, siblings, children and friends who often grieve in silence because of stigma and discrimination. Mike’s message is simple but challenging: meet people where they are, "love them where they are, just like Jesus did," and fight for practical support like naloxone access and harm reduction services.

He also talks about the South Carolina Recovery Housing Association and how recovery housing has evolved from a few people sharing homes into an industry that can sometimes exploit a vulnerable population. In response, the association works to mentor operators, advocate for residents, and make sure every recovery house in the state has naloxone and training on how to use it.

If you’re looking for a raw, heart-forward reminder that local action matters, this episode might make you ask yourself: what small step could you take in your own community today?